Clutch-control and gear-shifting apparatus.



v A. M. BATSNER.

CLUTCH CONTROL AND GEAR SHIPTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, I913.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

A. M. BATSNER.

CLUTCH CONTROL AND GEAR SHIFTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1913 Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

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A. M. BATSNER.

CLUTCH CONTROL AND GEAR SHIFTING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIQH FILED SEPT. 4, 1913. 1,127,581., Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

m mm u m b A.'M. BATSNER.

CLUTCH CONTROL AND GEAR SHIFTING'APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1913.

1,127,581. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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CLUTCH CONTROL AND GEAR SHIITING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.4,191S,

1,127,581. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

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A. M. BATSNBR. CLUTCH CONTROL AND GEAR SHIPTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED Sill-14.1913.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Zlnuzmlio t mum MDMENQQ UNITED STATES PAETENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR mnn'rslvsn, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

CLUTCH-CONTROL AND GEAR-SHIFTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

Application filed September 4, 1913. Serial No. 788,049.

To all whom may concern:

the shifting of a semiautomatic electricallycontrolled gear-shifting device.

An object of my invention is a gear-shifting device adapted for use in connection with gear transmission mechanisms of the type ordinarily employed in automobiles, which may be manipulated more simply.

A. further object is a change-speed operating device,-wherein the clutch-between the driving and driven members is automatically disengaged, before the gear-change takes place, and is automatically engaged, after the desired gear-change has been made.

A further object is to produce a gearshifting device, in which the operator is re lieved of the annoyance of controllingvthe operation of the clutch and the driving agent, when changing gears, and yetone in which he may have positive controlof the speed with which the clutch'takes up the driving power, after the desired gear-change has been made.

I have shown my invention applied to an automobile, merely to illustrate one embodimentthereof, and desire it to be understood that the application of the device is not limited to motor vehicles, since I contemplate its use in connection "Wlth any machines using change-speed mechanisms ofsimilar construction.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application,- Figure '1 is a plan' view of an automobile chassis showing mechanism embodying my invention, mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig.3

is a perspective view of the electrical'lv op erated clutch control and gearshiftingmechanism of-my invention, Fig. leis a fragmental perspective plan view o-'- the changespeed gear box, with the gearshifting mechanism shown in position" thereon.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the clutch dash pot and theclutch-engaging control device. Figs. 6 and *7 are fragmental detail perspective views of the contact plates used in theelectric control system. F ig. 8 is a fragmental perspective view of the steering column control-mechanism. Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8. Fig- 10 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 9, but showing the apparatus in different relative-operating positions.- Figs. 11 through 18 are composite views diagrammatically illustrating the electric controlsystem, showing elevations of a sector plate and the various changes through which the parts of the control-system pass in stepping up from the neutral or no-gear position to the high gear position, and then down through neutral position, into reverse gear and back to neutral. Fig. 19 is a composite view, illustrating a front elevation of the sector plate of the reverse control-device,

showing the neutral position of the reverse control switch lever, together with a fragmental plan view of the gear box, showing the neutral position of the gear-shift lever and of the link which aids in controlling the gear-shift lever.

The apparatus consists of an electrically operated andcontrolled combined clutch-operating and gear-shifting device20, which is connected with an intermediate mechanism 21, directly connected with the gear-shift leverfor operating same, and a combined mechanical and electrical device 22, located on the steering column of the machine, for controlling the operation of the two previously mentioned devices.

In the apparatus shown, the clutch-operating'and gear-shifting device 20 is mounted'upon the vehicle immediately behind the change-s eed gear box, and consists of a main slide member 23, reciprocallymouuted on guide bars 24, 24. On the main slide 23, primary slide member 25 is reciprocally mounted. This slide is provided with headed -ends-25,-25, for' engag ng the ends of the main slide at either end of its sliding movement, and to cause the main slide to be carried along with it over its guide bars. Primary slide 25 isprovided on its upper face with rack 26, which engages the pinion 2'! of an electric motor 28. Y The motor is nmmitedon a suitable supportfsuch'as a I bracket 29, secured to the chassis- 230 of the car, and is provided with an electro-magnetically operated brake 28 connected in series in the motor circuit. Adjacent to the slides 23 and 25," a clutch-operating plate 31 is mounted on arms 32, 82. These arms are secured'to a shaft 33, rotatably mounted bearings i, 34, on' the frame of the device.

Rotatably mounted .on pins 35, 85, secured ineach-end of the primary slide 25, are slotted links 36', 36", respectively, the slots of the respective links engaging the pins- 37, 37-, located to one side of the slide 25 andsecured'to each end of the main slide 23,-asshown. The free end of each one of t-herlinlrsbein-g adapted to alternately swing outwardly, when the slide 25-moves in first one direction and "then in the other, willengage and push plate 31 outwardly, the end ofthe-link at-the same time moving across th'esurface of the plate, as the" slide moves; This outward movement ofthe link ceases when one or the other of the heads 25 25", of. the primary slide, engages lth'e main slide 23. The outward movement ofthe plate causes partial-rotation of the shaft 33, and

through bevel gears 38,- 38', operates an arm 39, which is; connected with arod 40, connectedwitlrthe olutchmperatinglever 41;

By electrically controlling motor 28 to operate in one direction or the other, as hereinafter described, the operator can cause slide 2-5 to reciprocate direction or the other, to throw out the clutch between the drivingand driven members b'efore'each gear shift and by causing 'a further move ment of the sl ide to bring an intermediate mechanism 21 into operation to eause'a shifting of the gears This intermediate mechanisnt-QL, (see 4'), consists of a' forkedarm 43 and a link 45, which is 'lo'ea'tedbetween the forked armand the gear box 42; The forked --is I rigidly connected with themai-n slide 23, by o'f' a" rod 44 which imparts a longitudinal reciprocation tothe forked arm. dink is 'mounted toreoiprocate transversely hy means ofrods 4'], 47', passing through bearings 46', 46 formed oneach sidje ofthe gear box, the rods being secured to'the '1i-nk,[as shown inFi'g." 4}

The type of-gear box'sele'cted to be shownin connection with-my invention, isfthat in which the gear'shiftin'glever 48extends upwardly through an H-shaped slot 4-9, 'and in which the gear lever may be. shifted to occupy positions at the ends of each-of the branches 50, 50, 50-", 50f, of the slot, The gear-changes through which the mechanism "passes when the gear lever is shifted tone cu-py-the above mentioned positions are re spectively first or lowgear, second orintermediate gear, third or: highgear, and re} verse gear. The forked 'arrn43 'i-s-provided with two pins 5,1, 51 ,between the gear lever 48 is located, and free to move transversely from side to side of the forked arm, through the intermediate portion 52 of the H-slot 4.9. The distance between the branches 43',.43", of the forked arm-is equal to the distance from outside to outside of the H-slot, so that the gear lever is free to oocupy either of the branches of the slot. The transverse distance between the inner faces of the sides of the link 15 is likewise equal to the transverse distance from outside to outside of the 'H-slot and the longitudinal distance between the inner faces of the ends of the link is equal to thefoverall length of the -H-slot,

In order to cause-the gear lever to enter the different branches of the H-slot, the link ia-must be moved from one side to the other side-of the slot, thereby pushing the gear lever fro'mone longitudinal branch-of the slot transversely throughthe portion 52 to theeother' longitudinal branch. Reciprocation of the-gear lever in the longitudinal branehesis' effected by -the forked arm 43, connected with the mains'lide 23, by rod 44:, as shown in Fig, 3;

Thelongitadin-al movement of the forked armd tothrow the gear-shift lever 48 into any one of the g'ear change positions, is under electrical control-through motor 28 and slides 25-and -23. The-transverse movement of link '45 is undermeehani'cal control through a bell crank 61, a-rod- 60,-an arm 59,

and-a hand leverv 55, which forms apart of the combined mechanical. and-electrical-controldevice 22, This lever- 55 also acts asswitch lever for the electrical control of forked arm 43.

I will describe the control device 22. This device is illustrated-in detail in- Figs. 8 throngh 10 inclusive. and comprises a sec: tor-shaped dial member, 53, having a slot 54 formed in itsfaee, in'whichslot-a hand lever 55'. mayreeipwcally travel. This lever 55 extends through aslct 56 in the steering column 'h'landjis rigidly secured tea rod or shaft '58 extending longitudinally within-the ede a-and detachably' connected-- by means of a oupling 65 to a similarly located shaft- 58. {The shaft 58? is connectedat its lower end'with'an arm 59, (see' Fig. I), which-'op- I era-tee through a red 60 and al bell crank 61, operating in a' knuckle 62 on the rod 47,130 shift the "link 4? The lever 55' is provided near its' attached end with a'hinged' joint 70-.- whioh will permit of an up-ordown movement of the slot-engaging'end of the lever- 55 so -that this end will-engage any oneof the slot 54- provided; The end of the tric'al switches located the-notches of the slotk5'4w These fingers arepivotally mount-' lever Sails-bifurcated and two switchoperat-v ed 'on a rod 72, secured in each side of the sector casing, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and having retaining springs 73, '73, secured to them, which bear against the underside of a bridge 74 formed on the sector casing. A stop 75, formed on the underside of the lever 55, aids the springs 73, 73, in retaining the switch fingers in their normal v position;

In each of the notches 71, 71, 71", are located electric switches 76, 77, 78, while in a branch 83 of the slot 54 are formed notches 84., v85, in which switches 79, 80,

. are located. 4 The switches 76, 77, 78,are

operated by moving the lever 55 together with the switch fingers 55, 55", to occupy one of the notches 71, 71, 71", and then by pressing one or both of the fingers to close the switch, thereby completing the respective circuits. The switches 79, 80, however, are operated by allowing the lever 55 to remain in notch 71, while the fingers are lifted away from the lever and brought into the branch 83 of the slot, so that finger 51 may occupy the notch 84, and the'finger 55 occupy the notch 85. By pressing upon one or both of the fingers, either or both of the switches 79 and 80 may be closed. Adjacent to thehand lever 55 is mounted the reverse operating lever 63 and its sector 64,

the reason for so mounting the reverse lever being, to preclude any unintentional manipulation of the lever and a consequently accidental operation of the reverse gears, while the car is moving forward and the lever .is being used to control its forward movement. The reverse operating lever is connected with the coupling 65 by means of a yoke 66, and in its, normally inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 8, is

not affected by the operation of lever 55. When, however, the reverse lever is operated, the coupling 65 is lifted, and as hereinafter described, the shaft 58 and the lever 55 are operatively disconnected from the shaft 58, so thatonly the reverse lever 63 may operate the link 45. The coupling 65 is in the form of a cylindrical sleeve having "an annular recess 67 formed therein, with slots 68, 68, extending on either side of the annular recess. At the end of the shaft 58 a key 69 is placed, it being adapted toenter the slot 68 and to alternately occupy the annular recess 67 or'the slot, when the coupling 65 is respectively raised or lowered by the lever 63. .A key 69' is placed in the end of the shaft 58', so as to occupy the slot 68 at all times to permit a free reciprocatory movement of the coupling. In the re erse sector 64, switches 81, 82, are similarly located in a slot 86, to be operated by moving the lever 63 to occupy the respective' notches of these switches, so that a slight downward movement of the lever will close either switch.

On the side of slide 23 are located a number of electric contact plates 87, as shown in F1g.-' 7, while on a stationary contact system and the positions of the control lever 55, its fingers55, 55", and the gear shift lever 48, during and after the operation of shifting from one gear change to another. These figures will be described in sequence in" describing the operation of the apparatus, which follows: 1

Before starting the car, the gear lever 48 must be in the position shown at A in- Fig. 11, which is the neutral or no-gear position, and the hand lever 55 must like- Wise occupy the neutral position, as shown at B, the link'45, therefore, occupying the neutral position, also shown at A. It will be understood that the movement of the lever 48 is caused by the'forked arm 43 of the slide; 23, but that thejshowing of this arm and its operating slide 23, in these diagrammatic views, has been omitted for clearness of illustration: However, the relative positions of the contact plates 87 on the slides, with the plates 89 on the stationary member 88, have been shown at C. The switches located in the sectors'53 and 64 are shown, diagrammatically at D. 'The actuating motor 28 and its electro magnetic brake are shown at E. At C in the figure, the elongated plates F, G, H, I and J representthose mounted on the stationary contact. member 88, shown in Fig. 6, while the small plates 7, g, h, i, and j represent the plates mounted on the slide 23. At D in the figure, the plates 1., 1, 2, 2 represent the contact plates of' the switch 76, located .while its cotlperating switch 82 is represented by the plates 13, 13, 14, 14'.

In starting thecar, lever 55 is moved from neutral position. shown MB in Fig. 11. to

1st position, shown at B in Fig. 12. This movement causes link 45 to move fr m the position shown at A in Fig. 11 to position A shown in Fig. 12. In this position the side of the link prevents the gear lever "from entering the portion 52 of the H-slot- Thefingers 55, 55", are now pressed, closing switch electricpotential K, through wires 90, 91,"

76, as shown a 1). Closing-this switch causes current to flow from the source of pl ates,1, 1, wires 92,93, through motor 28, w1re;94, through brake 28, which nowreleases the motor, through wires 95, 96,.

throughplates 2, 2, wire 97, plates G, g,

(see Fig. 11 for their starting position wires 98, 99, to'the source K; The motor now operates, causing slide 25; to move'over the slide 23, forcingslotted link 36"to move the plate 31 outwardly to withdraw the clutch. The head 25 now engages the slide 23, and while link 36 holds the clutch in a disengaged position, the slide 23 moves to cause a shifting of the gear lever 48 to the 1st or low gear position. Plates G, g, on slide 23 and member 88 now separate, as shown at C, Fig. 12, breaking the circuit, which causes brake28' to stop the motor. The clutch members now engage, to enable the engine to drive the car through the low mal position. In moving-back, the rack 26,

on slide 25, causes a reverse rotation of mo tor 28. 1 The spring 28 of brake 28', being of much less force than clutch spring 100, permits of the slipping and somewhat re strained reverse movement of the motor.

After the car is well underway on low gear, intermediate or second gear is thrown in by first moving lever 55 t0 neutral position. (See dotted line position at B, Fig. 13). This causes link 45 to assume, position A. Switch 3, 3, 4, 4, is now closed. (See dotted lines at D) This brings plates f, g, h, i and j, as well as gear lever 48, to neutral position. (See C and A respectively). Lever 55 is now moved to 2nd gear position, causing link 45.to move to position A, and at the same time pushing lever 48 through slot 52 to the shorter elongated portion of the H-slot. Switch 5, 5, 6, 6, is now closed,

completing circuit K, 90, 6, 6, 101, 96, 95, 28, 94,28, 93, 102, 5, 5', 103, I, a, 104., 99 to K. The motor now operates to move lever 48 into second gear position A", Fig. 13. In shifting from second to third or high gear, lever 55 ispermitted to remain in second gear position, which does not alter the position of link 45; the fingers '55, 55", are, however, lifted away from lever 55 and moved into slot 83 to occupy notches 84, 85, respectively. By means offinger 55, switch 7, 7, 8, 8,is now closed andgear lever48 is moved to neutral position A, Fig. 14-, in the shorter portion of the H-slot, corresponding to neutral position A, Fig. 11,1111

manu the anger erson of the H-slot. Switch 9,

. 9, 10, 10,.is now olosed'by finger 55" and lever 48 ismoved to position A, Fig. 14.

In stepping back from high gear to 2nd i or intermediate. fin ers 55 55" are laced with lever 55and with it are moved toneu- 5 5, 6, 6 is'closed. The circuit and posi- 1 tion of link 45, as well as lever 48, now being thesame as those after the first movement of lever48, when moving from 5 1st to 2nd "gear, will cause lever 48 to move to i 2nd gear position.

- In shifting from 2nd 3 to 1st gears, finger 55" is moved into slot 83 and placed .in .notch84. ':(See dotted lines Fig. 16). The closing of switch 7, 7 8, 8,-by means of finger. 55", now moves lever 48 back to neutral positionA, Fig. 16, as when passing from .,2nd'to 3rd. gears. Then lever tion A and pushes lever 48 into the longer portion of the H-slot through the portion 52. The closing of switch 1', 1, 2,2, now-causes lever 48 to move into 1st gear position, as shown at A; the circuit being the same as that described in connection with Fig. 12, when originally moving into 1st gear.

Having now passed from neutral to 3rd ear and back to 1st gear, the operator, in order to reverse the motion of the car,

Imustmove lever 55 to neutral position, as

indicated at B, Fig. 17. and by closing switch 3, 3, 4, 4, restore the operating parts to the positions indicated in Fig. 11, and at A, Fig. 17. Then by means of lever 63, coupling 65, above described, is raised. This movement operatively disengages lever 55 from, the shaft 58' and'places reverse lever slot 86 and then placing it in the notch of switch 81, as shown at L, Fig. 17, link 45 is brought to position A. Plates 11-, 11, 12, 12', of this switch are now brought together and the lever 48 is moved into the reverse position A In order to place lever 48 once more in neutral position, lever 63 is moved to 00- cupy the notch of switch 82, (see L, Fig. 18). This movement causes link 45 to occupy the position shown at A, and by bringing the plates13, 13. 14, 14, of this switch together, lever 48 is moved to the position shown at A. By-now placing lever 63 in its then moved to 2nd position and switch 55, with" fingers 55', 55 is moved to 1st gear. position. This moves link 45. to posiv lot .63 in complete control of the gear-shifting mechanism. Now by moving lever 63 into pling,6 5,operatively engages shaft 58' with hafats, and lever. 55, and the entire device is again placedan its normal condition ready for a, repetition, of the above described op erations. It will, of course, be understood that previous to each. gear-change, the clutch members are disengaged, and that after the" Means have been provided for regl'ilating thespeed of engagement of the clutch members. This means consists of a dash pot 105 mounted on the chassis, andthrough which the'clu'tch. operating rod -40 passes; a piston 106, (seeFig. ,5), being mounted on the rod withinthe dash pot. In theend of the dash pot, adjacentto the clutch, is located a valve 107, which admitsair to the dash pot upon withdrawing'the clutch,"thereby facilitating its withdrawal. Also located in this end of the dash pot is avalve'.108,'which is connected by means. of 'a system of "rods and levers to a handle 109 on the, steering column of--the-machine.- This valve is-used-for thepurpose of controlling the discharge 0f-'a-ir*-- from the dash pot,thereby enabling the operator to control the rapidity with which the clutch members reengage each other.

Another feature of. my invention is the means for automatically regulating the speed of the engine, when the clutch is released. -This meansconsists of a-rod 110,

which is'connected to a lug 111, (see Fig. 3)

on the arm 32 of the clutch operating mechanism, and a cooperating lever 112 and rod,

113, (see Fig. 1), which is connected with the throttle of the engine carbureter and 0' l erates to automatically cut down the supp y of fuel, when the engine is released by the withdrawal of the clutch, thereby preventaving thus described my invention, 'what inglthe engine from racing.

claim is: 1. In a transmission mechanism, the combination of-a driving element and a driven element, aspeed-change mechanism located between the driving'and driven elements, a device for operating the speed change mechanism, combined manually and electrically operated means for starting the operation of said device, and automatic meansfor stopping the operation of said device.

2. In a transmission mechanism, the combination of a driving element and a driven element, a housing, a change-speed gear mechanism located in the housing between the driving and driven elements, a lever for shifting the change-speed gears and operating in a slot formed in the housing, means engaging the lever and adapted to move it transversely of the slot, and a second means engaging the lever and adapted to move it longitudinally of the slot.

d. In a shifting-gear transmission mechaa ni$m,;a.gear housing, a gear-shaft lever extendingithrough a slot in the housing, a manually, operatedmeans engaging the lever and adapted to move it transversely of the slot, and an electrically operated means engaging the lever and adapted to move it longitudinally of the slot.

4.1a a transmission mechanism, the combination of adriving agent and a driven agent, a shifting-gear mechanism located betweenf said agents and connected therewith,

means for. controlling the operation of the said means comprising a main slide movable on ways mounted adjacent to the apparatus and a primary slide, mounted on and movable along ways formed in the main slide, means carried bythe primary slide and operatively connected with the main slide for operating the clutch when the slides are moved. I

6. 'In a gear-shift operating device for transmission mechanisms, the combination of means for manually setting and electrically controlling the device, and an electrically actuated mechanism for operating said device and controlled by said means.

77 In a semi-automatic gear-shifting apparatus for transmission mechanisms, the combination of an electrically actuated means ,for shifting thegears, an electrically released brake for said electrically actuated means, and manually. operated levers for electrically controlling the operation of said gear-shifting means and said brake.

8. In a transmission mechanism the combination of a clutch, a shifting-gear mechaand said gear mechanism, said means comprising a primary slide and a main slide, means for transmitting movement from the primary slide to the clutch, and means adapted to transmit motion from the primary slide to the main slide following. the transmission of movement to the clutch.

9. In atransmission mechanism, the combination of a change-speedgear mechanism, a clutch located adjacent to said gear mechanism, means located adjacent to the gear mechanism and theclutch and adapted to release the clutch and to operate the gear mechanism after the clutch is released, said means comprising a main slide and a primary slide, and automatic means located adjacent to and connected with the main slide for stopping the operation of both slides.

10. In a transmission mechanism, the com- I bination of a clutch, a shifting-gear mechanism, and means for operating said clutch and shifting-gear mechanism, said means comprising a primary slide and a main slide, means connected with the primary slide for withdrawing the clutch when said slide is first moved, heads on the primary slide to engage the main slide at the end of said 12. In a transmission mechanism the combination of a gear shifting device, an electric motor, means connecting the motor and the gear-shifting device, and manually operated means for controlling the motor. 7

13. In a transmission mechanism comprising forward and reverse Speed gears, the combination of a gear shifting device, means for controlling the operation of said device in shifting the forward speed gears, and a second means normally connected with said first mentioned means during operation of said first mentioned means, and adapted to be disconnected from said first mentioned means for controlling the operation of said device in shifting the reverse speed gears.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 2nd day of September, 1913.

ARTHUR M. BATSNER. Witnesses:

IVALTER F. MURRAY, WV. THORNTON Boonn'r. 

